Transfer window : 28 Local leagues players signs overseas

Another transfer window is about to end and 28 caribbean players will left their home leagues or Caribbean League to join a team abroad. The mainly country receiving those Caribbean players is United States of America with a total of 12. Let's see who are the players to join abroad:

Keston George (Left) and Yohance Marshall (Right) signed for Iceland Third Tier side's Kórdrengir
Photo credir: CAN BOU PLAY FOUNDATION MEDIA

The dream and fight of Jabari Mitchell into professional

“My life have always been built around football ,the love and passion I have for the game is indescribable. My dream is to play abroad and since a kid I've been working towards that” this word belongs too ne of the most skinfull players in TT PRO League at the moment: Jabari Mitchell.

The 20 years-old attacking midfield that joined Point Fortin Civic FC to take the number 10 is looking to keep the good work up and become true his dream. Wearing the #10 also for Trinidad & Tobago U20 National in CFU U20 Qualifiers and then at the group stage representing full CONCACAF U20 recently but he also played at U17 and U20.

Jabari Mitchell with the ball during CONACAF U20 against Bermuda
Photo Credit: Unknown

Keithy Simpson travelling around the football

Jamaica is one of the mainly countries that product great footballers in Caribbean as we saw in Gold Cup 2017 when they arrived at final against United States. Keithy Simpson is na exemple of those players that doesn’t wait and see the opportunites where they are and take them.

He is a player that can counts many stories as he already played in Europe, North and Central America and caribbean with also expierence for his country. The 27 years old is almost a utility player as he can play as wing back and winger as also midfield.

Simpson in CFU Club Championship against Flames United
Photo credit: Orisphotography

Leslie Russell much expierence for the 27 years old

Today we will talk about a trinidadian center back that at the age of 27 has much stories to tell in a career that involved some teams, expierences with the national and at international level with the club.

Leslie Joel Russell was involved in the good years of representative clubs in Trinidad and Tobago football history that are W Connection Football Club and San Juan Jabloteh and also Soca Warriors. Russell is among few players that won four times TT PRO League and with two diferentes clubs.

Currently he is playing for Club Sando FC being a leader at defense for the club in the TT PRO League 2017.

Leslie Russel with Club Sando FC colors
Photo credit: TT Daily

Kimaree Rogers, the magican n° 10 that is also a goalscorer

Saint Kitts and Nevis has been at a high level in the past years and a cause of that is the great improvement of the local league have gotten. The SKNFA Premier League have a loto f good Young footballers that have been prodicted well both in the local football and also in International playing against Europens National Teams like Estonia, Armenia, Andorra and Georgia.

One of its sons of the local football is Kimaree Rogers that started playing as attacking midfielder and in the two past seasons proved to be a deadly striker beeing the top scorer twice. He scored 21 gols in the season 2015-2016 and in this past season he went forward scoring impressive 25 goals.

Rogers with St. Kitts and Nevis National Team in the International Frienly agaisnt Armenia
Photo credit: www.news.cn

Caribbean Transfers

In every start of season in United States and Central american leagues and january transfer window in Europe we hope to see caribbean footballers leaving the region to go forward in their career.

2017 is bringing us some surprises with Caribbean Transfers. They year started with the transfer of antiguan risiong star Javorne Stevens to currently MLS' champion Seattle Sounders FC but Stevens will join the "B" team that play in USL( Third tier). St. Vincentinian Vasbert Ledger is also other player that left caribbean to play for his first time abroad. Ledger signed for United States' side Cajun SC.

Now riding to Asia, we saw Trinidaidna striker Shackiel Henry signing with Song Lam Nghe An of V-League of Vietnam. Henry was playing for Directv W Connection. Also trinidadians strikers Willis Plaza to East Bengal and Anthony Wolfe to Churchill brothers left TT PRO League to play abroad again. Morvant Caledonia United's Center Midfield Densill Theobald also back to play in India now for Mumbai FC.

In Europe, Guadaloupean striker Elbert Anatol impressed in the match of Coupe of the France against Fleury-Merógis and was signed by them. bermudian International goalkeeper Dale Eve joined Dandy Town Hornets in the local league of bermudas but already returned to England to play for non-league side Ilkeston Fc that is a club that use to have some bermudians.

Different of last year, Liga Pepsi of El Salvador just had one caribbean player signed for this season. Trinidadian Defender Dwane James signed for CD Pasaquina. On the other hand, we saw something never seen before when trinidadian forward Jerrel britto signed for hondurian CD Honduras Progresso. Britto is the first Trinidadian to play in Honduras. Trinidad & Tobago center back Triston Hodge was on trial with costa rican side CD Cartagines but didn't sign.

However some more news of caribbean going abroad can show up soon. A good number of young footballers have been in the pre-season and trials with europenas and United States clubs. An interesting point is that among those players are players that did well in CFU U20 and CFU U17 Qualifiers.

In Europe: Central FC's duo Nathaniel garcia and Nicholas Dillon are on trial with Belgium KPE Maasmechelen. San Juan Jabloteh's duo Josiah Trimmingham and Jodel Brown are on trial with portuguese Belenenses and the forward Brent Sam is also on trial with a portuguese club. Puerto Rican rising star Ryan López and Carmello Carillo are on trial with spanish UD San Sebastian.

In USA: with the pre-season of MLS clubs some young caribbean footballlers joined the temas in the pre season. W Connection's Aikim Andrews is with Toronto FC, Isaiah Hudson is with Vancouver Whitecaps Fc and recently Alvin Jones joined Minnesota United FC. Haitian Roberto Louima joined New York City FC in the pre season.

Roberto Louima with New York City FC

Aikim Andrews with Toronto FC

Other Trabsfers of caribbean abroad:
Devaughn Elliott from Murcielagos Fc to Pittsbourgh Riverhounds
Jamal Jack from CD Dragon to Pittsbourgh Riverhounds
Kenroy Howell from CD Dragon to Pittsbourgh Riverhounds
Kevin Molino from Orlando City to Minnesota United FC ( Trade )
Cornelius Stewart fro PS Kemi to TC Sports
Richard Roy from hamilton Academical to Broughty
Zeiko Lewis from Real Boston College to New Yourk Red Bulls ( Super Draft )
Trevin caesar from Orange County Blues to Sacramento Republic

For more info about the transfers in caribbean like this page:
https://www.facebook.com/Caribbean-Transfers-932420353517568/?fref=ts

The Rank of Caribbean leagues

In my 4 years of study about caribbean leagues I was able to realize many things about the football in the region. I study in a total of 28 leagues from 25 countries. These leagues are from almost all caribbean football associations. Aren’t included in my studies St. Lucia, Montserrat and Bahamas. About Bahamas I am just waiting the league starts to see If I’ll be able to get forward with this league also. Recently I included in my studies leagues such BVI National League thanks the big help of Charlie, The league of Sint-Marteen and Aruba was also included this year. It is my third time trying to study about Division d’Honeur de Aruba.

Now I’ll let you a rank showing the best leagues in the CFU region:

From Africa to Caribbean

Trinidad and Tobago profesional league( TT PRO League) have in their history many caribbean players, some south americans and also some africans.

The football, in terms of money, isn't so different in Caribbean and Africa. But africans national teams are a bit better because, like some countries are doing in caribbean, they call up europeans to replace local players.

TT PRO League's logo

In terms of importance, we can say South African Premier League is for Africa as TT PRO League is for Caribbean but in South Africa there's much more investments.